This week’s Listening Party focusses on North African Artist Bombino. Listening Party is a curated weekly column promoting music discovery and encouraging concert-going. Featuring someone we’ve been jamming out to and whom we recommend to the masses, each Listening Party artist has an upcoming show the following week at a local NYC venue. Grab your headphones and read on.
WHO: Bombino (Omara “Bombino” Moctar)
WRITTEN & PRODUCED BY: Bombino (Omara “Bombino” Moctar) & Dan Auerbach
THEY SAY: “The soulful sound of the Sahara’s young generation.”
WE SAY: Some of the best music in the world.
FROM: Agadez, Niger
ONLINE: https://www.cumbancha.com/bombino
LABELS: Cumbancha Discovery, Nonesuch/Elektra Records
Recent Work: 2013’s Nomad
Bombino is a world-class guitar player who grew up during an era of armed struggles for independence of Niger and Algeria. Because of the conflicts surrounding him while he learned to play guitar, his music stands as a platform for unity and happiness worldwide, and his intricate melodies fold perfectly into the gentle rhythms of his music. At times his songs are loud and bluesy, and at others softly cathartic, but there’s always a mystical element to his music that simply draws you in. Nomad, was created under the wing of producer Dan Auerbach (one half of The Black Keys), and it will inspire dance moves you didn’t even know you had. Bombino’s live show is one big party- a stage full of spirited musicians, 4 ripping guitars, and a crowd that gets down. By the end of it you’re going to want to take guitar lessons. He plays next Tuesday (July 30th) at Brooklyn Bowl for a mere $12- we recommend nothing more.